My Wife cannot get SIN Number to work - even though she is now a PR (through spousal sponsorship).

[LordX]

We went into the SIN office in person today. We had a very nice person try to help us - they even called their superiors on a help line. They would not under any circumstance accept the COPR as a primary document after 12 months. Even with my wife, and all of her other identifications, sitting right in front of them.

So we went to the local MPs office - happened to get lucky that they were the MP for immigration where we live. They promised to get in touch with someone by Monday December 12th.

What a nuts ride this has been.... you know, I recall when I signed up to sponsor her, there was a specific line in the application saying that she is not to take any form of government assistance for at least 2 years after landing.... but then they won't let her work due to some insane 'gray' area deadline that the SIN office has implemented. Think of the 1000's of dollars that she could have earned in the last 4 months! That can never be recouped now. We just get to drain our savings account while we wait.... (I am starting up my own business here, which is going to take time to make anything)....

This leads to other questions too, which are probably out of the scope of this forum - like, since she doesn't have a SIN number, can I file taxes this year as married? Won't they want her SIN? Can I claim her as a dependent? lol (dont tell her I said that! hahaha)

 

[armoured]

We went into the SIN office in person today. We had a very nice person try to help us - they even called their superiors on a help line. They would not under any circumstance accept the COPR as a primary document after 12 months. Even with my wife, and all of her other identifications, sitting right in front of them.
...
This leads to other questions too, which are probably out of the scope of this forum - like, since she doesn't have a SIN number, can I file taxes this year as married? Won't they want her SIN? Can I claim her as a dependent? lol (dont tell her I said that! hahaha)

Did you get a written refusal? If you did not, you should go back, and insist that they either accept her application, or give a written refusal with the specific reason it is not being accepted. (If they accept it and say she'll get a refusal later, that is also good - you need a written refusal). If you can't do that, as I wrote before, she should apply by mail or online.

As before, she can show to employers that she has applied and has the legal right to work as a PR, and she can and should do so or attempt to do so.

To have a 'cause' with which to go after the government - either legally or by attempting to pursue administratively - you need the refusal or difficulties getting work. This will also help with minister of immigration office - another department is keeping legal PRs from working.

You can file taxes no problem, procedure is in instructions for those with no SIN number, I don't recall what it is.

 

[BCTechy]

Did you get a written refusal? If you did not, you should go back, and insist that they either accept her application, or give a written refusal with the specific reason it is not being accepted. (If they accept it and say she'll get a refusal later, that is also good - you need a written refusal). If you can't do that, as I wrote before, she should apply by mail or online.

As before, she can show to employers that she has applied and has the legal right to work as a PR, and she can and should do so or attempt to do so.

To have a 'cause' with which to go after the government - either legally or by attempting to pursue administratively - you need the refusal or difficulties getting work. This will also help with minister of immigration office - another department is keeping legal PRs from working.

You can file taxes no problem, procedure is in instructions for those with no SIN number, I don't recall what it is.

Since she does not have a SIN, you put nine zero's (000000000) where the SIN should go in the tax return. It will go through with no problem.

 

[LordX]

We contacted the MP office, and they are contacting immigration directly. After their last call, we finally got the 'acceptance' e-mail for our application.... FROM AUGUST.... Really insane.

So now back to waiting, thankfully the MP office checks in after 10 days, to ensure its being processed. I asked them to encourage URGENT processing on this since it is so delayed.

 

[armoured]

We contacted the MP office, and they are contacting immigration directly. After their last call, we finally got the 'acceptance' e-mail for our application.... FROM AUGUST.... Really insane.

So now back to waiting, thankfully the MP office checks in after 10 days, to ensure its being processed. I asked them to encourage URGENT processing on this since it is so delayed.

Thanks for the update. Please advise us what happens next.

 

[scylla]

We contacted the MP office, and they are contacting immigration directly. After their last call, we finally got the 'acceptance' e-mail for our application.... FROM AUGUST.... Really insane.

So now back to waiting, thankfully the MP office checks in after 10 days, to ensure its being processed. I asked them to encourage URGENT processing on this since it is so delayed.

That is just nuts.

 

[armoured]

That is just nuts.

This follows from the same absolutely stupid policy that we see with SINs all the time, as well as (to a lesser degree) the dormancy thing. This right is a pretty absolute one that the government can't suspend for a documentation issue - PRs in Canada have a right to work.

And worse, a violation of rights for something the government can figure out by asking ... another department of government.

 

[LordX]

So - good news (if you can call 5 months of stress good!) - we got the card. Just 10 days after getting the acceptance email - so someone obviously bumped up the application to URGENT status after the MP office called.

I am thankful that the MP office helped - just still kind of in shock we had to go through all of this.

Thank you all for the ideas and suggestions throughout!